Freshwater-coast beauty; hard winter, tiny airport. Median home price runs about $427K with an effective property tax near 1.38% — roughly $5,893/yr on the median home.
Scorecard
Dimension
Traverse City
Median home price
$427K
Effective property tax
1.38%
Tax friendliness
6/10
Winter mildness
3/10
Summer comfort
9/10
Walkability
4/10
Outdoor access
9/10
Culture & food
6/10
Healthcare
4/10
Airport connectivity
5/10
Schools
7/10
Safety
8/10
Hazard safety (10 = lowest risk)
8/10
Growth trajectory
6/10
Who it fits: outdoor-first households, families weighing schools, buyers with room in the budget. Who should look elsewhere: anyone done with winter.